Mop-cleaning cabinet



March 10, 1931.

F. B. TRUAX MOP CLEANING CABINET Filed Jan. 17, 1929 nuunmnu PatentedMar. 10, 1931 FLORENCE ."B. TRUAX, OF NEW'YORK, N. Y.

MOP-CLEANING CABINET Application filed January 17, 1929. Serial No.333,134.

This invention relates to mop cleaning cabinets and has for its objectthe provision of a mop cleaning cabinet'which may be placed in a room sothat it is practically inconspicuous, out of the way, and yet readilyaccessible. Another object is to provide a cabinetin which mops may becleaned without the dirt removed from the mop escaping into the roomwhere the cabinet is located. Still another object is to provide meansfor taking care of the dirt removed from the mop in a sanitary manner.

A preferred embodiment of my invention which achieves the above objectsis illustrated in the drawing and described in detail in the followingspecification.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front viewof the cabinet with door open,Fig. 2 is a side view of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1.

The mop cleaning apparatus is mounted in a casing 1, which has one openside, the side on the right in Fig. 2, and the bottom of which is formedinto a chute 4, through which the dirt removed from a mop can drop intoa removable receptacle. The open side of the casing is covered by aframe 3 having a flange 2 to which the casing can be secured in anysuitable manner. The central portion of the frame 3 is formed by a door6 hinged to the outer portion at 7. In the chute 4 is pivoted a trapdoor 5. The pivot rod 5 is fixed to the trap door and extends throughthe end wall of chute 4. To one projecting end of pivot rod 5 is secureda weight arm 24, which normally holds the trap 'door closed. A cord '23is connected to the weight arm 24, extends up through a hole in theframe 3, and has a knob 22 at its end, by which itcan be pulled to openthe trap door 5.

The cabinet is divided off into four compartments 8', 9, 10' and 11.Each of compartments 8, 9 and 10 is provided with an inner door. Thebrush 12 for cleaning mops is mounted in compartment 11, motor 13 incompartment 9, and chain 14, by means of which the motor drives thebrush, is arranged in compartment 8. A button 15 is released when door 6is opened whereupon the starting switch 16 for motor 13 is closed.

.Ashield 17 is secured to door 6 and projects close up to brush 12 whenthe door is open. This shield not only keeps dust from dropping throughthe crack where the door is hinged, but also serves as a shelf on whicha mop may be supported so that it is held against the rotating brush.

Two supports 18 are also arranged on door 6. The door is held in desiredposition by flanges 19 on supports 18 engaging projections 20 in thecabinet.

When the mop is placed on shield 17 its handle may be placed on rest 21.

The cabinet is designed to be set or built into the wall of a room orcloset. An opening should be made orleft in thewall slightly larger thanthe outer dimensions of the open side of the casing. The casing can thenbe inserted through the opening and the outwardly extending flanges offrame 3 will come to rest against the wall, supporting the casingincorrect position and forming a finishing molding around the opening..It will A be evident that there'must be sufiicient space behind the]wall to receive the casing, for which purpose a special closet may beformed in the wall, if necessary.

A space, left beneath the chute 4, will permit the dirt and dust comingfrom the cabinet to fall into a suitable receptacle placed below. Thisreceptacle can be emptied from time to time.

When it is desired to clean a mop or the like door 6 is opened. This actis immediately followed by the closing of switch 16, the starting ofmotor 13 and the driving of brush 12. The mop is then placed on shield17 and the handle on rest 21. As the brush rotates in the directionindicated by the arrow, the dust will be thrown towards chute 4 withouthaving a chance to escape into the room or drop through the crack wherethe door is hinged. When the mop has been cleaned and withdrawn and door6 has been closed, knob 22 is pulled and trap 5 is opened permitting thedirt collected to drop through from chute 4. The weight 24 returns trap5 to original position when knob 22 is released.

By my arrangement, the dust brushed out of the mop never enters the roomand is taken care of in a very sanitary manner. A further advantagesecured by my invention is [that the cabinetis adapted to be put out ofr the Way Without decreasing its accessibility.

What Iclaim is: v

5 1. In a mop cleaning cabinet,- a casing having an open side and anopening at the bottom thereof and bsingotherwise closed, clefim ng nismW t i said ngga iiiamameans for attaching said frame to said casing to10 cover the open side thereof, said frame p'ro jeoting-beyond the sides.of said .oasling, said casing being adapted to extend into an openingin a Wall and to be supported b-y eoritact of the outwardly projectingparts of said i 5 frame with the outer wall surface, said frame having a.hinged'portio permitting access o said cleaning me han m- 7 In a zmqipcle ning ca inet, a casing having ll peniside and having its bottom vgg'the form of a ohnte, vcleaning mechanism in 1 said casing, a pivotedtrapdoor in said-chute,

mean n mally hold ng said rap door in position .to .close said chute,and means for tiltingls id trapdoor .1 ts p ot.

Y 3; In a mop cleaning cabinet; .a Casinghaving one open side and anpening at the bottom; a frame eoiiering said open side and haying aeentra p n i n hinged at its lower edge to .the Quter part ofsaid frame;means 33 for holdi ng said hinged portion in ahorion ail p ition, when pn; a horizontal r tary' brush in saidloasing, a shieldfixed tolsaid 1inged L O EfiiOI and ,proj eotingzoyersaid filing-e edge to within ashort distance from said 3; 'brnsh, when said hinged-portion is inhorizontal posi ibn; said, shield being adapted to snplporta mop incontact ith-said'b rush. .Tlh foregoing specificati signed at New Yor .cy, this th day of J nna y, 192x 4e. p B, TRUAX.

